Steelers 7, Broncos 0: Justin Fields connects with Darnell Washington for touchdwon

Russell Wilson is coming back to the Mile High City. But he’ll be on the sidelines with a calf injury. Stick here for live updates and analysis as Denver hosts the Steelers at Empower Field at Mile High.

Live updates

Second-quarter updates

Injury update (2:59 p.m.): Broncos DE John Franklin-Myers is being evaluated for a concussion. — McFadden

First-quarter analysis — Steelers 7, Broncos 0

Parker Gabriel, beat writer: The Broncos offense is so bad that Russell Wilson might be wandering the Pittsburgh sideline asking people, “Is it 2022 again?”

Ryan McFadden, beat writer: Are we sure Russell Wilson was the main problem with Denver’s offense?

Matt Schubert, sports editor: If you were looking for something to be optimistic about early on in this one, you’re still looking for it. Bo Nix has been sacked once, the Broncos are 1 of 3 on third down and the defense just got bullied on a long Steelers touchdown drive. Pretty sure Denver would’ve preferred to see Russell Wilson taking snaps, and not Justin Fields.

Troy Renck, sports columnist: Everything is so hard for this offense. Get perfect protection, run a good route, and hope to get 3 yards. … Makes Payton offense seem outdated. Doesn’t hurt they rarely use motion to create mismatches to overcome their lack of playmakers.

First-quarter updates

Only took 14 minutes (2:56 p.m.): There it is your first Broncos first down of the game with less than 30 seconds left in the first quarter. — Schubert

Nuggets love (2:53 p.m.): Big cheers for Michael Porter Jr and Peyton Watson, who are at the game. So there’s that. — Renck

Steelers touchdown (2:50 p.m.): The Steelers capped off a 12-play, 78-yard drive with a 5-yard Justin Fields touchdown pass to Darnell Washington. Steelers 7, Broncos 0 with 1:56 to go in the first quarter. — Joe Nguyen

Mt. Washington

Stream on NFL+: https://t.co/COxKRnr6Mc pic.twitter.com/If8tOgDbEV

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 15, 2024

The Broncos cannot hold on third-and-goal. P.J. Locke had no chance on an out-route to tight end Darnell Washington. First touchdown wins? — Schubert

Darnell Washington, at 6-7, 264, had no problem creating space against safety P.J. Locke for the score. 12 plays, 78 yards, 7:34 off clock on the drive. — Renck

Slow to get up (2:49 p.m.): Looks like Broncos DL D.J. Jones is down and slow to get up. — Gabriel

DJ Jones walks off field slowly … seemed to be dealing with back or side issue. He is having a tough go vs. run so far. — Renck

Sacked (2:48 p.m.): Rookie OLB Jonah Elliss is on the board with his first career sack. — Gabriel

Jonah Elliss with his first career sack. And it couldn’t have come at a much better time, with the Steelers inside the Denver 5-yard line and threatening to score a TD. It’s now third-and-goal at the 5. — Schubert

Speed (2:44 p.m.): Zach Allen has done a good job at getting to the backfield. However, Justin Fields is pretty fast. — McFadden

We have a first down (2:42 p.m.): Halfway into the first quarter, we have our first first down of the game by either team as Pittsburgh’s Justin Fields connects with George Pickens for 13 yards. — Nguyen

Another three-and-out (2:37 p.m.): After a pair of promising gains for 8 yards, Bo Nix was sacked by Pittsburgh’s Alex Highsmith. — Nguyen

Highsmith dipped around Bolles for a third-down sack.

Denver had Dulcich chipping on Watt to help McGlinchey on the other side. — Gabriel

So much attention falls on TJ Watt. As it should. But Highsmith is legit on the other side. He slipped under Bolles for first sack of game. — Renck

Another former Broncos return (2:33 p.m.): Our old friend Corliss Waitman with a heck of a punt on fourth down for the Steelers. Get used to that phrase. — Schubert

Three-and-out. Again. (2:32 p.m.): Setting the over-under for punts today at 18.5. Take the over. — Schubert

Brandon Jones with solid tackle of Fields in the open field. If you love punting, this is a special day for you and your family. — Renck

Great tackle by Broncos safety Brandon Jones to stop Fields on third down. Both offenses are off to a shaky start, which is not surprising. — McFadden

Three-and-out (2:29 p.m.): Greg Dulcich short of the sticks on third down, replacing Noah Fant short of the sticks as Broncos fans’ least favorite weekly refrain. — Schubert

Broncos open with a three-and-out. They had seven last week. — Renck

Two runs for no yards and a pass short of the sticks. Broncos offense is off and runn..stumbling. — Gabriel

Coin toss (2:26 p.m.): Pittsburgh wins the toss and defers. Broncos up first on offense. — Gabriel

For the record, Russell Wilson did get on the field once today … for the coin toss. — Schubert

Pre-game updates

Bad start (2:23 p.m.): The mic wasn’t on to start the national anthem and the flyover was about 20 seconds late. If this a harbinger of the Broncos’ offensive plan…. — Gabriel

Visiting fans (1:44 p.m.): Visiting fans always show up to stadiums earlier, so grain of salt here, but … there are a lot of Steelers fans in the building 40 minutes before kickoff. — Gabriel

Wilson out (12:58 p.m.): Also official: Pittsburgh QB Russell Wilson is inactive and, like Zach Wilson for the Broncos, will serve as the team’s emergency third QB today. So he cannot enter the game unless the Steelers’ other two QBs are ruled out with injuries. — Gabriel

Broncos inactives (12:57 p.m.):

• QB Zach Wilson (Emergency third QB)
• WR Devaughn Vele
• CB Kris Abrams-Draine
• RB Blake Watson
• TE Lucas Krull
• OL Frank Crum
• DL Eyioma Uwazurike

No surprises here. Vele was ruled out Friday with an injury and the rest were inactive last week. Basically a flip of Vele and rookie WR Troy Franklin, who is officially active for the first time in his career. — Gabriel

Good morning from Empower Field (11:52 a.m.): About 11:35 a.m. Russell Wilson came out onto the field for his normal early workout. Not before he had a couple minutes’ chat with Broncos QBs Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson, WRs Michael Bandy and David Sills and some training staff. Wilson’s not expected to start for Pittsburgh today as he deals with a calf injury. Last week he was inactive but was in uniform as the emergency third quarterback. He could well end up serving the same duty today. — Gabriel

Scouting report (11 a.m.): Check out how the Broncos match up with the Steelers in Ryan McFadden’s scouting report.

Game predictions

Parker Gabriel, beat writer: Steelers 20, Broncos 17

Russ or no Russ, life doesn’t get easier for Denver rookie QB Bo Nix against Pittsburgh’s defense. T.J. Watt rightfully gets top billing, but Alex Highsmith (14.5 sacks in 2022, seven last year) is no slouch on the other side. Mike Macdonald and the Seahawks played it pretty straight last week. Mike Tomlin? Here’s betting he’s got some wrinkles up his sleeve for Nix and company.

Ryan McFadden, beat writer: Steelers 17, Broncos 13

This game might get ugly. Denver’s offensive line is already banged up so there’s a chance quarterback Bo Nix will be running for his life against T.J. Watt on Sunday. At the same time, Pittsburgh’s offense is questionable. Denver’s home opener will be a low-scoring contest, dictated by special teams and the run game. Pittsburgh will have the edge against the Broncos.

Troy Renck, columnist: Broncos 17, Steelers 16

No Russell Mania, so this feels like an undercard bout. But there is urgency for the Broncos to win because if they don’t, they are staring at an 0-4 start with back-to-back roadies looming. Bo Nix will be challenged by the Steelers pass rush but will be helped by an improved run game. However, the Broncos will escape because of three takeaways, including a Jonathon Cooper strip sack of Justin Fields for the second straight season.

Sean Keeler, columnist: Steelers 22, Broncos 13

Russ, schmuss. Just when Bo Nix needs most to turn to his run game and keep a nasty Steelers pass rush honest, Audric Estime goes on injured reserve and starting left tackle Garett Bolles and center Luke Wattenberg are walking wounded. The Steelers put four tight ends on the field at one point in Atlanta to run the single wing with QB Justin Fields. Mike Tomlin’s going to be fine with pounding the ball and daring Nix to do the un-Bo-lievable. No. 10’s not there yet.

Broncos-Steelers NFL Week 2: Must-reads

Broncos analysis: Is Denver at risk of relying too heavily on rookie QB Bo Nix to solve long list of Russell Wilson-era offensive ills?

In November 2023, the Broncos had won five straight and just polished off a bully-ball win against Cleveland to get above .500 for the first time all season.

At 6-5, they had legitimate playoff aspirations. Quarterback Russell Wilson had 17 touchdowns and no picks in the red zone.

The 17-0 TD-INT ratio didn’t capture the sacks and penalties that beset the Broncos offense. It didn’t mask, in Payton’s eyes, that Denver was among the league’s worst offenses on goal-to-go situations. It certainly did not convince Payton that Wilson was the guy to get Denver where it wanted to go long-term, Parker Gabriel reports. Read the full story.

Broncos Journal: Denver’s pass rush shows signs of improvement. But can defense be dominant for full game?

The Broncos’ front seven wanted to be a physical and attacking front this fall. They didn’t waste any time in doing so against the Seahawks in the season opener.

While Denver wasn’t pleased with the outcome of its 26-20 loss in Seattle, there were positives to take away from the experience, starting with the Broncos’ ability to apply pressure on Smith in the first half.

After the Broncos finished 29th in pressure rate (18.2%) in 2023, the pass rush showed signs of life. The next step is making the quarterback’s life miserable for an entire game, Ryan McFadden reports. Read the full story.

Renck: Starting Bo Nix was right decision. But soon enough, Broncos’ Sean Payton will have to defend it.

Bo Nix earned the right to start. And it won’t be long before coach Sean Payton is forced to defend his decision.

Hear me out. Six quarterbacks were drafted in the first round last spring. Nix was the last.

Three started on opening weekend. You know how many will face four straight head coaches who were former defensive coordinators? The list starts and ends with Nix, Troy Renck writes. Read the full column.

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